As discussed in previous sections, the first phase of
the competency development process is done at the
program level, independently of courses. This
course-independent structure gives greater flexibility
in reviewing the integrity of the overall program, and
in adapting the program to reflect changes in the
industry and technology. The program learning components
are used as convenient groupings of competencies organized
along related skills and knowledge. However, transferring
the learning components directly into a course structure
would not be the most effective way to teach students.
It has been shown that students learn best through
activities that integrate competencies from several
learning components, in particular activities that bring
together technical and foundation competencies.
In order to support the learning process, modules were
developed. Modules include the following elements:
- specific outcomes and competencies from
several program learning components
- activities that support the learning of
these competencies
- performance indicators and assessment
suggestions for each activity
- a capstone project that integrates most
of the module competencies
The module template gives an overview of the
module elements and module organization.
Modules can be incorporated in the program in the following
ways:
- as a stand-alone course
- as part of a course
- infused across several program courses
Three modules generated for the Technical Support program
are included as examples. These are:
- Components of College English Composition for IT
- Technical Report Writing for IT
- Science Skills for Technical Support
In the first two modules, the module outcomes and
competencies are defined independently of the Technical
Support application. It is with the activities that the
Information Technology context is brought into the modules. This gives flexibility in applying the module competencies to other specialty areas (not necessarily Information Technology related), by simply adapting the activities to a different field of study.
The third module, on the other hand, includes two types of
competencies:
- process competencies that can be easily
applied to other IT clusters or other fields (this is
true of the competencies in Scientific Thinking and
Analysis and Scientific Documentation and Reporting)
- content competencies, which are more
specifically related to the areas of science that bring
important knowledge to a Technical Support Specialist
(these areas are Magnetism and Computer Magnetic Storage,
Electricity, Integrated Circuit Design and Testing and
Data Transmission)